Sandy Beach Camp sits within the Coralville Recreation Area, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, with forested sites positioned close to a boat ramp and lake access. The campground is small by design. Electric, water, and sewer hookups accommodate RVs up to 66 feet, while tent sites are also available, though reviewers note that many sites slope noticeably. Bathrooms include showers and an outdoor sink, and past visitors report well-maintained facilities and attentive hosts. The name references a beach that has since become overgrown, and there are no marked hiking trails nearby. Insects, particularly flies and gnats, can be a significant nuisance in late summer. Anglers and boaters will find the location convenient; those looking for campgrounds around Coralville Recreation Area will find several additional options in the surrounding area. The campground runs May through September, with reservations available and pets permitted.
Description
Overview
The Sandy Beach Cammpground is located on the northern shores of Coralville Lake. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreations, fish and wildlife management, and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportinities, including boating,, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water activities, picnicking, and hunting.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for camping, boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. Anglers will find large and small mouth bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish.
Facilities
The Sandy Beach Campground offers 58 campsites to include full hook-up campsites, standard electric campsites, and non-electric walk- to tent campsites. Amenities include modern restroom and shower facilities, playground, dump station, drinking water, and entrance station. The Sandy Beach Day Use Area offers picnic sites, a large group picnic shelter, boat ramp, fish cleaning station, vault restroom, and lake access.
Natural Features
Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. The Sandy Beach Campground lies among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species on the northern reaches of Coralville Lake. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. Whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, song birds and other species roam the lands around the lake.
Nearby Attractions
The Devonian Fossil Gorge is just below the dam, offering a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year old sea floor and discover fossil remains of sea life that once inhabited this tropical marine environment. Twenty Discovery Points can be found throughout the site. The Lake MacBride Golf Course is nearby, offering nine holes among rolling hills. Several additional golf courses are scattered around the lake. Iowa City/Coralville offers the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Iowa campus, hospital and clinics, numerous restaurants and shops as well as Coral Ridge Mall. Cedar Rapids has wonderful cultural, historic and ethnic attractions such as The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and is the home of the Kernels Professional Baseball Club. West Branch boasts the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Presidential Library/Museum. At Amana Colonies visit seven quaint villages with outstanding restaurants, wineries, historic sites and specialty shops. Kalona is known as the Quilt Capital of Iowa and is home to an Old Order Amish and Mennonite Community.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSandy Beach Camp is located in Iowa near Ely
Directions
From Interstate 380 (Shueyville, Iowa) take Exit 10 towards Shueyville. Travel east on 120th St. NW for 1.2 miles. At the stop sign, turn right onto NE Curtis Bridge Rd. Travel south on NE Curtis Bridge Rd for 1.1 miles. Turn left onto Sandy Beach Rd. NE and travel east for 1.9 miles. The entrance to Sandy Beach Campground will be located on the right side of the road. From Highway 1 (Solon, Iowa) turn onto Hwy 382 NE/E Main St at the stop light. Travel on Hwy 382 NE for 2.6 miles. At the traffic circle, turn left onto Ely Rd. NE. Travel on Ely Rd. NE for 1 mile. Turn left onto 140th St. NE and travel west for 2.0 miles. 140th St. NE will become Sandy Beach Rd. NE. Continue traveling on Sandy Beach Rd. NE for 1.7 miles. The entrance to the Sandy Beach Campground will be located on the left side of the road.
Address
3369 Sandy Beach Road NE
Solon, IA 52333
Coordinates
41.8136111 N
91.5952778 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/13/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/13/26- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/13/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/13/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/13/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/13/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- 30 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 19 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 26 min from Iowa City, IA
- 1 hr 7 min from Waterloo, IA
- 1 hr 13 min from Davenport, IA
